Reader Scott Adler wrote recently to tell me about an interesting article on cable/DSL router security. I found it interesting that the mainstream computer media, in this case it was an article at CNET News.com, that was warning people to change the default password on their cable and DSL routers.

For a long time, my security recommendations for wired and wireless routers include the recommendation that you change the password on the router from the default to one of your choice..

What’s the default password for a router? It’s the password that you have to enter to edit the router settings. Many users use their router’s default password to set up the router initially. Then, they forget all about changing the password — or they worry that they won’t remember it so they decide not to change it.

Why is it important to change the router’s password? You should change the password because it’s one more door that can be locked to protect your computer and your Internet computing.

Continue reading Router Security — Wired & Wireless Routers

I’m sure you’ve heard about the On-Star satellite system sold by General Motors as an add-on for their automobiles. On-Star is billed as a method to give you instant access to help and even remote control of your vehicle. Lock yourself out of your car? No problem, call On-Star and they’ll unlock it for you. In a crash? They’ll call you to make sure you’re all right because the triggering of the air bags triggers a warning to them. Lost? Get directions.

Before On-Star, and still available for other autos, was a system called Lojack. It would respond to a special transmission and respond with its location. In other words, if it was stolen, you could get the Lojack people to locate the vehicle so it could be recovered.

Now, Absolute Software licensed the Lojack name to use with their software product Lojack for Laptops.

I’d read about it a couple times. Then, one day I noticed that Dell Computer was including it as part of the Complete Care package for their notebooks — at least on the models that I was considering.

So, I started looking at Lojack for Laptops again. The more I read, the more I liked…

Continue reading Lojack for Laptops
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Get Lojack for Laptops now…

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This week’s online articles include:

*   Create PDF Files for Free

*   My Security Software Recommendations

*   Using Multiple Tabs in Firefox

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This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry”s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry”s Computer Tips newsletter

This week’s online articles include:

*   Choosing to Send Plain Text or HTML in Outlook Emails
Fonts, colors and special formatting are sometimes appreciated in emails. However, often, recipients don’t want them. It’s easy to change the default settings and the setting for an individual email…

*   Updates Last Week
I watch a few operating systems and programs for updates — mainly because these are the ones that I use or in which I am interested. What updates or versions were new last week?

*   Backing Up Your Files
A subscriber asks me what I use to back up my files…

Google made a big change in the Google Pack recently. The free Google Pack software package started out with free Google applications like Google Earth, Google Desktop, the Google Photos Screensaver and Picasa (the photo-editing program that Google purchased).

Google began including other programs like Firefox (with the added Google toolbar), Adobe Reader, RealPlayer, Spyware Doctore (Starter Edition), Norton Security Scan ,Google Talk, and Skype.

Now, you can add Sun Microsystem’s StarOffice to the list! What’s StarOffice? It’s a supported version of OpenOffice, with lots more templates, fonts, and more…

Continue reading Google Pack Now Includes StarOffice

This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry”s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry”s Computer Tips newsletter

This week’s online articles include:
*   Using the free Google Photo Screensaver
Taking a look at the free screensaver that is part of Google’s free Google Pack software package

*   Updates Last Week
I watch a few operating systems and programs for updates — mainly because these are the ones that I use or in which I am interested. What updates or versions were new last week?

*   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
Want to know which Antivirus program I recommend? Which firewall program? Which Antispyware program? Which Antispam? Or, which router for your home network?

This week’s email only article is "Computer Shuts Down By Itself"

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